Following an official announcement that the pirate-themed game Skull and Bones was delayed for the sixth time, Ubisoft has published a new video featuring Skull and Bones gameplay in a dev livestream.
The entire livestream only lasted for about half an hour, so it’s worth a watch if you’re keen on learning more about the game while waiting for its release.
The stream highlighted a few aspects of the game, such as Investigations, which make the player search for treasure to steal. Investigations are sort of like sidequests in Skull and Bones, but they have an added layer of narrative wherein these stories are based on the factions that populate the world. By taking on Investigations, you not only learn the local history but also gain some sweet loot in the process.
Plundering in Skull and Bones involves your entire crew as you attempt to lay waste on settlements or locations of interest. It’s a complex system, with some of your crew members entering the settlement to steal the loot while you fight at sea against enemy ships and artillery. And though you can drag the fight on to potentially gain greater rewards, it also makes the enemy more aggressive with more time for reinforcements to arrive, so you have to plan your plunders carefully.
One tip regarding Skull and Bones that the devs pointed out was that you’ll likely want variety when it comes to owning ships. The game has its fair share of boats and ships of all shapes and sizes, with some being more suited for travel, combat, cargo, and hunting. Knowing when to use the right boat will make your career as a pirate all the more satisfying.
A bona fide pirate game wouldn’t be complete without sea shanties, and Skull and Bones has quite a few of them. You can sing them with your crew as you travel from place to place, with sea shanties ranging from the classic pirate shanties to those sung in specific languages. It adds a little more variety to the whole thing while keeping what players are familiar with and enjoying.
Though Skull and Bones has been delayed once more, you’ll be able to take the helm of your own pirate ship when it releases on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.